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OREGON CITY, Or. -- A Hillsboro man who sexually and physically abused a girl he met online was sentenced Tuesday to 42 years in prison.
Seth Michael Winkelhake, 41, pled guilty in Clackamas County Circuit Court to Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, Sodomy in the First Degree, Sexual Abuse in the Second Degree, two counts of Strangulation, two counts of Using a Child in a Display of Explicit Sexual Conduct and two counts of Luring a Minor. Other charges were dismissed as part of plea agreement.
Winkelhake met the girl in an online chatroom in late 2017 or early 2018 when he was 33 and she was 13. Winkelhake claimed to be 23.
Winkelhake persuaded the girl to send him many nude and inappropriate sexual images then used those photos to blackmail her and force her to continue sending explicit photos. He knew the girl’s name and some personal details. She feared Winkelhake would send photos she shared with him to her family or others.
Winkelhake convinced the victim to meet him in person in early 2021 when she was 16 years old. From that point forward, Winkelhake regularly sexually and physically abused the victim at night in public parks in the Oak Grove area. He was always masked and she never saw his face.
Winkelhake quickly became more aggressive and frequently inflicted pain on her.
She described Winkelhake as “very scary” and said he force her to engage in degrading activities and strangled her when she tried to remove his mask. She said she feared him, so she continued to meet with him.
At the time of his arrest, Winkelhake was employed as a public affairs specialist with Clean Water Services in Washington County.
“Winkelhake posed as an upstanding member of the community, but beneath that façade he exercised power and control over a vulnerable child to satisfy his own selfish desires,” said Deputy District Attorney Brian Powell, who prosecuted the case. “It’s likely he will never see the outside of a prison again.”
Law enforcement learned of Winkelhake’s crimes in 2024 when a friend of the girl contacted police, who began an investigation.
During a search of Winkelhake’s home, investigators found sexual paraphernalia and other items he used to abuse the girl. They discovered incriminating photos, internet history and written communication on his phone.
As part of his plea agreement, Winkelhake paid the girl $9,600 to cover the cost of counseling and therapy.
The girl once asked Winkelhake if he was engaged in similar sexual activities with other girls. He replied, "Yes, but you're my favorite toy."
The Clackamas County District Attorney’s Office acknowledges the thorough and diligent work of the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office and Detective Shauna Woodward on this case.
Clackamas County Circuit Court case 25CR32577
